Latch or the like



April 14, 1931. M. LEVENTHAL LATCH OR THE LIKE Filed April 11, 1930 INVENTOR By Attorney,

ments therein.

Patented Apr. 14, 1931 UNETEE STATES FATENT QFFE MITCHELL LEVENTI-IAL, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO SOSY, INCL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK LATCH OR THE LIKE Application filed April 11,

The present invention relates to latches or similar devices for fastening a pair of members in either overlapping or end to end relation and aims to provide certain improve- It has particular reference to a latch or closure fastening device for use on various types of containers formed with flap closures, for example, pocketbooks, wallets and the like. It is also useful as a coupling means for quickly detachably connecting together the ends of miscellaneous devices.

According to the present invention, I provide a simple, ellicient and neat appearing device of the class described which in its broad concept comprises an entering member, an entered member and resilient means for normally holding said members in coupled relation. To accomplish this the cooperative relation of the members are such that they can be coupled together by merely inserting the entering member into the entered member and uncoupled by merely applying a gentle sliding pressure upon the entering member. In its more specific aspect it consists in the novel form, construction and cooperative arrangement of the members, all of which will be clear from the detailed description which follows when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the device, with the members in coupled relation.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1.

Figs. 3 and 4E are a side elevation and front elevation respectively of the entering member.

Figs. 5 and 6 are a front elevation and top plan View respectively of the entered member.

Fig. 7 is a section taken along the plane of the line 77 of Fig. 5.

Figs. 8 and 9 are sections taken along the planes of the lines 88 and 99 respectively of Fig. 1, the section of Fig. 8 being on a greatly enlarged scale.

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of a slightly modified form of entering member.

Referring to the drawings, the latching means may be said to consist of an entered 1930. Serial No. 443,263.

member indicated generally by the letter A and an entering member indicated generally by the letter B. The entered member consists of a base element or plate G provided with a peripheral rearwardly directed flange 0, and socket element D preferably formed of sheet metal rigidly secured to the plate G in any preferred manner and, as herein shown, through the medium of prongs 65 extending downwardly from the sides of the socket through openings in the plate G and aligned openings in a rear plate 0 over which plate they are bent down as best shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9. The prongs (Z thus also function to hold the plate C in assembled relation against the rear of plate C. The socket element D is open at one end as shown at (Z and also open at its top whereat it is provided with an overhanging flange as shown at (Z said flange at the open end of the socket being provided with inwardly directed lips (P, the function of which will pres ently appear. The top of the socket is inclined with respect to the base thereof from its closed end toward its open end. To secure or fasten the entered member A upon a member to which the latch is to be applied, the plate C is provided with prongs 0 adapt ed to penetrate and be bent down over said holding member in awell known manner.

The entering member B comprises a base element E and a cap element F each being provided with a socket, the base element E having its socket on its upper side and the cap element F having its socket on its underside. The socket in the element E is provided by an upstanding peripheral flange 6. The socket in the cap element F is of vary ing depth. Around its peripheral edge or rim portion it is of a depth substantially equal to the height of the flange e on the base element and is flanked by a downwardly extending flange f excepting at its rear edge where said flange is omitted. Centrally of the cap element it is provided with a raised portion f which is inclined from the entering end or" the element rearwa-rdly and at the rear end of the cap extends completely across the cap as indicated at f and has a downwardly extending flange f at its rear which terminates at a point corresponding to the top edge of the flange f. In front of the portion f the peripheral portion of the cap is undercut or recessed as indicated at f for a purpose which will presently appear. The base element-E and cap element F are pivotally amounted in telescoping relation with their sockets facing each other upon a pintl'e G upon which interiorly of the sockets is mounted a tension coil spring H, one end of which it rests against the top faceof-the base element E and the other end h of which presses against the underside of the raised portion f of the cap element. The pintle G being mounted nearer one end of the elements E and F than the other it is apparent v that thespring will normally. to move the latter i dsof said elements apart. This outward relative movement is limited by the top edge of the flange at theentering end of the member engaging the underside of the entering end of the cap element, as bestshown in Fig. 8. In order that the flange f may not elements maybe employed.

In the operation of the device, to couple the members together "it is merely necessary to insert the entering member into the open end of the entered member.v Indoing so the peripheral portion of the cap element F will engage below the lips (Z on the socket and as the entering memberis movedthereinto the cap element will be -depressed against the tension of spring H until the entering member is pushed home within the socket, at

' which time the recesses f in the cap element will underlie the lips d and the rear end of the-cap element will thereupon be-moved out-V wardly under the tension of the spring to cause said recesses to engage said lips to latch the members. The cap, element isv made longer than the socket and: the portion pro 7 jects rearwardly of the socket when the entering member is pushed home therein. To unlatchthe members it ismerely necessaryto applyxa'slight pressure upon the raised por tion f of the cap which will cause the recesses to become free from-the lips, whereupon the entering member may be slid out of the socket. To facilitate thedisengagement of f the members by thepressure of the thumb of an operator upon the enteringmember and to enhance the appearance of the' device the centralraised portion of the capvelement is designed to fit substantially flush. within the opening d of the socket member or preferably gagement between the cap element and the finger of an operator said cap element may be transversely corrugated as shown at K in Fig. 10 of the drawings. lhe same result might also be accomplished by increasing the degree to which the projection at the rear of the cap element protrudes above the socket member as shown-at L in Fig. 10. While I haveshown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to. the details of construction disclosed, since modifications thereof may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention. I

What I claim is: .1. A device of the character described consisting of an entered member and an entering member, the entered member comprising a socket having an open top, an open end, a flange overhanging the open top and lips at the open end eXt-eneing inwardly from the flange, and said entering member compris ing a base element, a cap element resiliently mounted in inclined relation to the base element and adapted to be depressed toward the base'element against the resilient tension when moved into the open end of the socket o A v 7 said cap element having a rim portion. adapted to engage behind the flange overhanging the open top, a raised portion adaptedto proj set into the openingin the top of the socket, and recesses in the rimportionadapted to receive the inwardlyeXtending lips onthe entered .member whenwthe entering member is pushed home within the socket.

' 2 A device according to the preceding claimcharacterized-inthat the raised portion on the cap element projects into andfills the opening in the top of the socket when the members are in coupled' relation, said raised portion upon being depressed into substantially flushrelation with the flange overhang ing the opentopof thesocket permitting the members to beuncoupled.

8. A device of thecharacter described consisting ofan entered member and an entering member, the entered member comprisand inwardly extendinglips at its open end and'said entering member comprising a-base element having a socket on i-tstopside a cap element having a s-ocketonits underside, said elements being pivoted together near one end, a spring withinsaidfsockets urging said elements apart at their rearthereby normally ing a socket having an open end, anopen top portion adapted to enter and fill the open top of the socket of the entered member and recesses in its upper face adapted to engage behind the inwardly extending lips on the entered member when the entering member is pushed home within the socket, the raised portion of the cap element providing a finger engaging means for depressing the cap element for unlatching the entered and entering members.

4:. A device of the character described consisting of an entered member and an entering member, the entered member comprising a socket having an open end, an open top and inwardly extending lips at its open end, and said entering member comprising a base element, a cap element resiliently mounted in inclined relation thereto and adapted to be depressed toward the base element against the resilient tension when moved into the socket, said cap element having a raised portion adapted to project into the opening in the top of the socket, said cap element being longer than the socket and projecting rearwardly thereof when the entering member is pushed home within the socket, a protuberance at the rearwardly projecting part of the cap element extending upwardly beyond the top of the socket and recesses in the cap element at the base of said protuberance adapted to receive the lips on the socket member.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

MITCHELL LEVENTHAL. 

